Ahmad Sadiq and Samih Al-Laithi
When you encounter a vehicle navigating the streets without a driver, you might think it’s a scene from a science fiction film, oblivious to the fact that this could signal the future of transportation. The UAE government consistently anticipates the future and has successfully transformed this vision into reality. It has taken the lead in integrating smart technology across all sectors, including government transactions, tourism, retail, and now transportation, which is on the verge of becoming entirely intelligent.
Self-driving vehicles can be viewed as “large robots” that are capable of perceiving their surroundings, including coordinates, road information, and even weather conditions. They analyze this data and make quick, precise decisions with a 100% accuracy rate, eliminating any margin for error. This process repeats every second throughout each journey undertaken by the vehicle during the day.
In essence, a self-driving car goes beyond merely having sensors; it relies on highly sophisticated systems utilizing the latest applications and algorithms of artificial intelligence, processing an enormous volume of data primarily linked to cloud computing.
The primary purpose of deploying these types of vehicles is closely tied to enhancing road safety, given that the error rate is virtually non-existent. They also aim to significantly improve quality of life and alleviate traffic congestion. Achieving these objectives necessitates a well-defined roadmap that includes appropriate legislation, advanced infrastructure, and a substantial investment in cutting-edge technology—elements that are readily available in the UAE.
Particularly, Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as exemplary models in adopting self-driving vehicles or smart transportation methods. Efforts in this direction have been underway for nearly a decade and have already yielded tangible results, with such vehicles currently operating on the roads of these cities. Next year is expected to see a considerable increase in their presence. Transportation experts have highlighted various benefits stemming from the shift toward autonomous mobility, such as bolstering the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation and future technologies, enhancing road safety by minimizing human error (which is responsible for the vast majority of accidents), improving transportation efficiency through better road utilization, and enriching user experience by freeing up commuter time for work or leisure. Additionally, these advancements contribute to sustainability, as many of these vehicles are anticipated to be electric, aligning with Dubai’s clean energy strategy.
Dubai at the Forefront
Dubai has been at the forefront in the realm of self-driving cars. While in some countries the private sector leads the way in envisioning the future, Dubai’s government consistently outpaces private enterprises across various economic sectors. Today, the Dubai Metro stands as one of the largest autonomous public transportation systems in the world.
Global studies indicate that the advantages of autonomous transportation can be extensive, ranging from enhanced road safety, reduced parking costs, and decreased transportation expenses to environmental benefits, improved productivity, and higher quality of life for citizens. In Dubai, these benefits are projected to generate savings of 22 billion dirhams within a year.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has placed significant emphasis on developing and promoting future mobility technologies, particularly self-driving vehicles. This forward-looking vision kicked off in 2016 with the launch of the Dubai Autonomous Mobility Strategy, followed by a series of practical trials, including the announcement of the pilot operation of the first autonomous taxi during the GITEX exhibition in 2018. These initiatives fall under the Dubai Smart Mobility Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all trips in Dubai to self-driving journeys by 2030. The RTA has devised an ambitious plan that anticipates generating enormous economic benefits, estimated at 22 billion dirhams, along with time savings amounting to a billion dirhams annually.
The RTA has established a clear strategy based on several key pillars, including developing infrastructure to accommodate self-driving vehicles in terms of adapting roads, tunnels, and parking facilities. The strategy also emphasizes creating flexible and secure laws and regulations governing the operation of these vehicles to ensure user safety. Moreover, it focuses on collaborating with leading global companies in technology and vehicle manufacturing while ensuring creation of secure environments and live testing laboratories for these vehicles prior to widespread deployment.
Four strategic projects serve as the backbone of Dubai’s smart transport plan: self-driving vehicles, autonomous buses, autonomous abras, and air taxis. Dubai has made significant progress towards their commercial operation through a set of technological and operational enablers, key among them advanced artificial intelligence technologies and ongoing testing and experimentation.
The RTA has entered into several agreements with global firms, including Cruise, to operate autonomous taxis (robo-taxis). The pilot phase began on Palm Jumeirah, with a goal of deploying 4,000 self-driving vehicles by 2030.
In 2024, Dubai will witness a notable expansion of self-driving operations, with the number of vehicles set to double and trials extending to new areas within the emirate, marking a significant milestone towards the anticipated commercial launch in 2026.
Dubai has partnered with major global companies with advanced expertise in smart mobility, including AMX, the logistics arm of Seven X, which has recently begun trials for the level four self-driving Z5 electric vehicle. This marks a transformative approach in reshaping the delivery sector in the region using the latest in artificial intelligence and smart mobility technologies. The vehicle was showcased during the Universal Postal Union congress hosted in Dubai, transporting goods and logistics services under the supervision of relevant authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. After the trials, about 10 such vehicles will be put into operation in both cities.
Training Program
The RTA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Pony.ai, a company specializing in autonomous driving technology, to lead the pilot program in the emirate. Pony.ai, which developed its seventh-generation autonomous vehicles in collaboration with automotive giants like Toyota and Baik, utilizes advanced AI systems and an array of robust sensors, including lidar, radars, and cameras, to ensure safe and accurate navigation under varied road and weather conditions.
Additionally, the RTA has signed an agreement with Baidu Apollo Go, a company specializing in autonomous mobility solutions, to operate a fleet of self-driving taxis widely in the emirate. Baidu Apollo Go will conduct trials with 50 self-driving vehicles as a precursor to official operations, launching the service to the public next year. The sixth generation of self-driving taxis, designed specifically for autonomous transportation services and equipped with over 40 sensors, will be utilized. This model has already achieved considerable success and commendations from users in China, with data collection and testing expected to begin with 50 vehicles in the upcoming months, increasing gradually to 1,000 self-driving taxis within three years.
Furthermore, the RTA has initiated trials for an autonomous bus in Dubai, particularly in the Al Jaddaf area, conducting a series of technical tests to verify system efficiency and operational safety in preparation for a future public service launch. The preliminary results of the bus trials indicate advanced readiness of the smart systems for driverless operation within designated routes, enabling expedited rollout for passenger transport, especially along bus and taxi routes, which the RTA aims to extend to 20 kilometers by the end of 2026. The RTA has also formed cooperation agreements with Uber Technologies and WeRide, leaders in smart transport solutions, to launch a trial phase that will later integrate into Uber’s services in Dubai. The initial phase is expected to involve a safety operator, paving the way for full commercial service without a driver by 2026.
Significant Steps Forward
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is making substantial strides towards realizing a smarter and safer transport system, establishing itself as one of the first cities in the Middle East and North Africa to commercially operate self-driving vehicles. This positions it as a leading example for other cities in the region pursuing smart urban development.
Recent data from the Integrated Transport Center under the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi reveal that self-driving taxi services now cover half of the main areas in Abu Dhabi, with 44 operational vehicles serving five key regions, including Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, and the road network surrounding Zayed International Airport.
The emirate is actively working to extend the operation of self-driving vehicles in high-density areas to provide a safer and more efficient transport experience, in line with Abu Dhabi’s smart transport strategy, which aims for 25% of transport trips in the emirate to be conducted by self-driving vehicles by 2040, integrating AI technologies and sustainable mobility solutions across vital sectors to ensure broader coverage and enhance the effectiveness of the smart mobility system in the emirate.
Efforts to enhance self-driving vehicles in Abu Dhabi involve expanded collaborations with leading operators and AI technology providers to ensure safer and more efficient transport experiences. The smart transport strategy seeks to provide innovative and sustainable transport solutions, incorporating operators like SIBUS 42 and WeRide in self-driving technology, alongside Uber and local transport operators for ride-hailing services.
Hisham Al-Sahan, General Manager of Emirates Motors, highlighted that the UAE possesses a flexible governance system and swift decision-making processes supported by a clear vision from its leadership. He pointed to significant initiatives like the Dubai Smart Mobility Strategy 2030, which places innovation and technology at the core of future planning. He noted that the UAE ranks among the most connected nations worldwide, emphasizing that the rollout of ultra-fast 5G networks is vital for any autonomous transport system, which requires real-time data exchange between vehicles and infrastructure. He mentioned that closed and secure areas have been created to simulate real driving scenarios. The RTA in Dubai is recognized as the most active entity in the field of autonomous driving, having launched a clear strategy aiming to convert 25% of all trips in Dubai to self-driving by 2030. Similarly, the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi is focused on making the emirate a hub for logistics and autonomous transport technologies.
By 2030, self-driving vehicles of level four are expected to become a common sight on the main roads of the UAE. The smart vehicle market in the UAE was estimated at around 11 billion dirhams in 2024, with expected annual compound growth rates of 12% to 15% until 2030, reaching 18.5 billion dirhams. This growth rate is significantly higher than the global automotive market average, underscoring the UAE’s role as a leader in adopting smart transport technologies.
The smart vehicle market can be divided into key technological sectors, the largest of which is connected vehicles, considered the most developed sector. A vast majority of new vehicles sold, whether in the mid-range or luxury segments, are connected vehicles. More than 80% of new vehicles sold in luxury and premium categories are equipped with built-in connectivity technologies, including real-time navigation, wireless updates, and remote control via smartphone apps. Dr. Andreas Skaf, Director of Al Bitha Cars Group, stated that the smart vehicle market in the UAE is dynamic and rapidly growing, as the country undergoes a profound transformation in the transportation sector, being at the forefront of the adoption of smart and connected vehicles. He emphasized that this shift is fueled by the government’s ambitious vision, a thriving economy, advanced infrastructure, and a society embracing modern technology.
The smart vehicle sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region. In the UAE, where ambition knows no bounds, this technology has become an integral part of the national transformation project towards smarter and more sustainable cities.
He highlighted the astounding technological advancements and investments made by manufacturers in the field of smart mobility, where global automotive companies compete fiercely in this promising sector and invest heavily in research and development locally, testing their technologies on the UAE’s roads.
Ambitious Goals
General Motors Africa and the Middle East predicts that the global value of connected mobility services will exceed $40 billion by 2030. As the region accelerates its journey toward achieving ambitious goals, connected vehicles will remain at the forefront of reshaping the urban living landscape.
Vinay Surana, Regional Director for Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa at Allianz Partners, noted that UAE efforts signal the dawn of a new era in smart mobility, with a focus on self-driving cars being a critical component of its ambitious strategies to achieve sustainable mobility.
He pointed out that self-driving technologies, while capable of reducing accidents by up to 80% by 2040, may give rise to new types of insurance claims that involve technological failures and failures in connected infrastructure. He underscored that the most significant challenge here lies in determining liability in case of an accident, as three main parties could be held responsible: firstly, the vehicle owner, who may be liable if they were driving manually and their actions caused the accident; secondly, the manufacturer, if the failure or malfunction of the vehicle’s software or sensors caused the incident, falling under product liability; and thirdly, the infrastructure provider, who could be responsible if the accident resulted from errors or misinterpretations from the infrastructure’s connected sensors that misled the vehicle’s AI system.
To shed light on this aspect raised by Vinay Surana, local insurance firms have begun early studies on the feasibility of launching insurance policies covering self-driving vehicles, as the overall insurance market is awaiting the establishment of a comprehensive local system to facilitate the operation of smart and autonomous vehicles in the country, providing a comprehensive vision to insurers before expanding the launch of specialized insurance programs for such vehicle types in line with the nation’s accelerating vision towards smart mobility.
Insurance sector officials emphasized the necessity of having numerous regulatory requirements for self-driving vehicles that impose specifications on cars, responsibilities of their providers, licensing requirements, operational regulations, ownership responsibilities, and laws related to expanding the local market, including insurance companies for this category of vehicles.
While they noted the existence of factors that support the technical study for insurers, such as self-driving features present in some electric vehicles already insured in the local market, they outlined pricing conditions that might influence the insurance policies for smart vehicles, including various technological factors, cybersecurity considerations, sensor technologies, road handling, human intervention factors, as well as repair and maintenance services.
For years, the UAE has been crafting a future vision aimed at expanding the self-driving vehicle sector, whether through regulatory frameworks that govern their market introduction via specific federal laws and regulations pertaining to specifications and standards for vehicle registration, which remain under study and preparation, or through local legislative initiatives in Dubai and Abu Dhabi allowing for the gradual implementation of smart vehicles, starting from public transport and extending to personal vehicles, alongside beginning to grant licenses to certain entities to operate this type of vehicle or to issue usage and driving permits, which will subsequently require relevant sectors, such as insurance, to adapt to these changes.
A Comprehensive Vision
Mohamed Mazhar Hamada, Vice Chairman of the Higher Technical Committee and Head of the Vehicle Committee at the UAE Insurance Association, indicated that insurance companies’ engagement with self-driving vehicles requires considerable time, as the market awaits a comprehensive framework clarifying all aspects related to the presence of autonomous vehicles, operational requirements in the country, safety standards, responsibilities of providers, owners’ obligations, laws governing vehicle licensing, and services related to cars before insurance companies can formulate practical programs and security documents akin to standard vehicles. He added that market development is natural; however, it necessitates many regulatory aspects from governmental agencies in coordination with local service providers.
Anas Moustarihi, the Executive Director of Aysand Insurance, explained that insurance companies’ orientation toward smart vehicles and future mobility is inevitable with the evident growth in the automotive sector in the UAE and the government’s initiatives in smart mobility aiming to transform the transport and automotive sector locally. He emphasized that market demands will manifest themselves in the industry, reducing reservations from document providers as the fundamental factor for assessing document issuance will be insurers’ adequate experience with insured vehicles. He added that self-driving transport is partially covered under current policies provided for electric vehicles equipped with autonomous features, including some Tesla models, as there are no restrictions in their insured contracts regarding utilizing these features, treating claims similarly to those arising from human-driven incidents, which may represent a suitable ground for insurance companies as they consider entering the smart vehicle sector.
He pointed out that self-driving vehicles, despite current market apprehensions, are an ideal product for insurance companies due to their near-zero risk, thereby reducing compensation costs and increasing profitability for firms. He noted that the local market is the fastest and most prepared for the expansion of self-driving vehicles, and thus companies should proactively formulate their visions regarding this vehicle category.
Insurance Products
The CEO of Unlimited Insurance Services, Jihad Viteroni, mentioned that while the launch has not yet been extensive, some companies have already begun researching and developing insurance products tailored to this type of vehicle, backed by the government’s push toward smart cities and sustainable mobility, which may facilitate the rapid introduction of specialized insurance documents for smart and autonomous vehicles in the near future, especially with the increasing adoption of this technology in the UAE, and regulatory authorities beginning to examine relevant legal frameworks. He added that technically, insurance pricing for these vehicles may be based on a range of technical factors, including the level of vehicle automation, the efficiency of sensor and safety systems, data tracking capabilities, the likelihood of driver intervention, as well as potential cybersecurity risks, and the cost of repairing advanced technical components, along with the availability of historical data on accidents or malfunctions.
How Do Self-Driving Vehicles Work?
The operation of self-driving vehicles can be divided into four primary, continuous steps:
1. Perception:
This is the first stage of the vehicle’s operation, focusing on gathering data about the surrounding environment. It relies on a complex set of sensors that allow the vehicle to see the world similar to humans—and often even better. The vehicle utilizes several critical devices to maximize environmental awareness, including:
- Lidar: This device rotates atop the vehicle and emits thousands of laser pulse signals per second, measuring the time it takes for each pulse to return after bouncing off objects. Lidar generates a high-resolution three-dimensional point cloud of the surrounding environment, allowing excellent differentiation of object edges and distances, comparable to echolocation used by bats.
- Radar: This technology sends out radio waves and measures their return to accurately gauge the speed and distance of moving objects, such as other cars, functioning effectively in poor weather conditions like rain and fog.
- Cameras: Typically, there are several cameras with differing viewing angles (wide, normal, close-up), providing rich visual information to the system, such as traffic light colors, road signs, and distinguishing pedestrians and cyclists. They act as eyes to capture details and text.
- Ultrasonic Sensors: Similar to those used in parking assist systems, these detect objects very close to the vehicle, particularly useful when parking or maneuvering at low speeds.
- Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation: Its role is to accurately pinpoint the vehicle’s location on the map and record its movement, acceleration, and turning, even in tunnels where GPS signals are unavailable.
2. Understanding and Representation:
This stage can be summarized with the question: “What does all this around me mean?” Raw data from sensors is meaningless without interpretation. This is where complex software and algorithms come into play to comprehend the vehicle’s surroundings.
This process follows several steps:
- Map Localization and Path Determination: Algorithms match the incoming sensor data with previously prepared high-resolution three-dimensional maps. This allows the vehicle to pinpoint its exact location on the map with centimeter-level accuracy, rather than just knowing, “you are here” as in mobile phone maps.
- Object Detection and Classification: Deep learning algorithms and neural networks are utilized to analyze camera and lidar data to identify and classify surrounding objects. These algorithms learn from millions of images and videos to distinguish between: “this is a car,” “this is a person,” “this is a bicycle,” “this is a green traffic light.”
3. Decision Making:
This phase can be characterized as the “vehicle’s brain” and its capability to make appropriate decisions. Once the vehicle understands its surroundings, it must plan its next move. This involves several steps:
- Prediction: The vehicle anticipates what others on the road will do. For example: “This person at the crosswalk seems to be standing on the curb but looks ready to cross,” or “That car in the next lane might change lanes suddenly.”
- Path Planning: Based on the destination and predictions, the vehicle strategizes the safest and most optimal route. It decides when to accelerate, when to decelerate, when to overtake, and when to turn, all while adhering to traffic rules and safety standards.
4. Execution:
This is the final phase of the autonomous driving process, where decisions must be translated into tangible actions. The control unit sends signals to the vehicle’s actuators to fully operate it, which include:
- The throttle actuator controls the speed.
- The brake actuator manages stopping.
- The steering actuator controls the direction of the wheels.
The cycle then restarts from the first step, with this process occurring hundreds of times per second to ensure immediate responses to any change in the surrounding environment.